March 17

Rock and roll's most famous residence was purchased today in 1957 when Elvis Presley bought the Graceland mansion from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500, the 23-room Memphis estate becoming the King's sanctuary and eventual tomb, now one of America's most visited homes…

 

Supergroup tragedy struck on this day in 1990 when Rick Grech died at 44 from kidney and liver failure, ending the career of the Blind Faith and Traffic bassist whose melodic playing had graced two of rock's most celebrated bands before drug abuse destroyed his health…

 

We remember pop's most elegant voice Nat King Cole on his birthday today in 1919, the pianist-turned-vocalist whose velvet baritone on "Unforgettable" and groundbreaking success as the first African-American to host a network TV show made him a pioneering icon before lung cancer claimed him in 1965…

 

We honor Jefferson Airplane's revolutionary guitarist Paul Kantner on his birthday today in 1941, the co-founder whose "Volunteers" and sci-fi lyrics helped define San Francisco's psychedelic sound while his political activism made the band's counterculture credentials authentic before his death in 2016…

 

Good-time folk-rock's most joyful voice John Sebastian celebrates his 82nd birthday today, the Lovin' Spoonful frontman whose "Do You Believe in Magic" and autoharp-playing captured 1960s optimism while his Woodstock performance cemented his hippie credentials…

 

Divorce reached astronomical heights today in 2008 when Heather Mills was awarded £23.7 million (about $47 million) in her split from Paul McCartney, ending their acrimonious four-year marriage and proving that even Beatles couldn't avoid expensive romantic mistakes…

 

Alternative rock's most ambitious architect Billy Corgan celebrates his 59th birthday today, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman whose "Tonight, Tonight" and double album 'Mellon Collie' proved that 1990s rock could still think big while his difficult personality made collaboration challenging.